ON THIS DAY: Wednesday 20th December 1933 - City ‘keeper Reg Matthews was born

20 December 2016

Laura Hunter

Matthews went on to make over 100 appearances for the club, as well as represent Chelsea and Derby County...

Reg Matthews, the first Coventry City player to appear in a full international for England, was born in the city on this day in 1933.

Matthews made his England debut in 1956 against Scotland at Hampden Park and went on to win five caps in total.

In 1956, City were in Division Three (South) so his achievement is all the greater based on where he was playing league football at the time. Matthews is one of only five post-war players to be capped while playing for a Third Division club.

After 116 appearances for the club, Matthews moved to Chelsea, then in Division One, for a fee of £22,500 which stood as a record transfer for a goalkeeper at the time.